Barcelona’s footballer Lionel Messi has been sentenced to 21 months jail by the court and fined 2 million Euros ($2.2 million) as he found guilty in three counts of tax fraud, on Wednesday, according to reports.

However, according to reports, it customary in Spain that people who are sentenced for less than 2 years for non-violent crimes do not serve time in jail.

Along with Lionel Messi, his father Jeorge has also been found guilty by the court and both are accused of defrauding the government of 4.2 million euros ($4.7 million) in tax between 2007 and 2009.

The court has also found that they evaded from paying the tax by using fake companies and and player’s image rights.

Despite Messi’s statement that he has no knowledge of this business as his father has control over his financial affairs, court sentenced him to punishment stating this was not enough for him to avoid charges. However, the court has said that the defendants can appeal to the Supreme Court.

According to reports, both Messi and his father has paid 5 million euros to tax authorities as a corrective measure as soon as the investigations were opened. Messi reportedly had an income of $350 million during this period and he was also listed in Forbes Magazine’s list of world highest-earning athletes.

By Prajakt K.